Brown Fires Two Shots in Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds

In 2019, trainer Chad Brown used the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Stakes (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as a bridge between grade 1 starts for Bricks and Mortar, and the eventual Horse of the Year escaped with a nose win, his narrowest margin of victory during a 6-for-6 campaign.

Now Brown is back, bringing Rockemperor and Instilled Regard to the New Orleans oval for the 1 1/8-mile turf race, though if the race serves as a bridge this year, it is to a destination unknown. Brown wanted to return both horses in the $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs, originally scheduled for May 2, but that race was put on hiatus after track officials announced March 17 that the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and its supporting May 2 program would be moved to September.

Though the new date for the Old Forester has not been announced, it is a candidate to join the Derby Sept. 5 because it has been historically contested immediately before the Derby.

"We'll use the race on its own merits, first and foremost, and not worry about the second start for both these horses off this race," Brown said.

Although Rockemperor and Instilled Regard are attractive prices on the morning line at 10-1 and 5-1, respectively, behind favored Synchrony at 3-1, neither Brown trainee is likely to start at odds that large in the 13-horse field. Both are grade 1-placed and will be ridden by popular, highly successful riders. Joel Rosario will be aboard Rockemperor, and Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the mount on Instilled Regard.

Rockemperor, a former French-based colt who ran second in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) last year at 3 in his first start in America, is unraced since a sixth in the Aug. 4 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes. A son of Holy Rock Emperor, he races for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber, and Bethlehem Stables.

"He just bounced in that second start and came out of it all sore," Brown said. "No surgeries—he just needed time, and we kicked him out and brought him back, and he seems primed for a nice campaign this year."

OXO Equine's Instilled Regard has been active this winter in Florida. He won the Dec. 14 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park and followed with a third in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T), beaten 2 1/4 lengths by next-out Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) winner Zulu Alpha.

"Instilled Regard is in good form," Brown said. "He had a good run in the Pegasus, and he seems to be training well."

Video: Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Runhappy (G1T)

The 5-year-old son of Arch won the Lecomte Stakes (G3) on dirt at Fair Grounds in January 2018 and was fourth behind Justify  in that year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) when trained at the time by Jerry Hollendorfer. He began racing for Brown that fall.

Bricks and Mortar gave Brown his second victory in the Muniz. The trainer won it in 2012 with Casino Host.

Pin Oak Stable's Synchrony can become a millionaire with a Muniz victory. The homebred 7-year-old son of Tapit  is a six-time stakes winner with earnings of $938,652. Synchrony won this race in 2018 and finished third last year. The chestnut horse has never been worse than third in six tries on the Fair Grounds turf course and was most recently second to fellow Muniz entrant Factor This in the Feb. 15 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T). He will start from post 12.

"He's had the one race back (off a four-month freshening) and has trained really well since," said Mike Stidham, Synchrony's trainer. "We are looking for a big effort."

Synchrony is seeking his first win since hitting the wire in front in the King Edward Stakes (G2) at Woodbine on June 29. He will have Joe Bravo in the saddle.

When Factor This, owned by Gaining Ground Racing, defeated Synchrony in the Fair Ground Stakes, he did so on the lead, outlasting him by a length to earn his first graded score.

Video: Fair Grounds S. (G3T)

He is part of a two-pronged entry from Brad Cox. The trainer will also send out the late-blooming Dot Matrix, who won the 1 1/2-mile John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 26.

"I feel like he is going into this race just as well as he went in the John Connally," Cox said. 

A cutback in distance is also on tap for multiple grade 1 winner Channel Maker, who often races in turf marathons. The Bill Mott-trained gelding has dropped his past six starts since winning the Man o' War Stakes (G1) in May. He wheels back after an even fourth-place finish in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park Feb. 29.

"It's all about the trip. He's a difficult horse—he's not an easy horse to ride," Mott said. "It's a little difficult to get the perfect trip with him. But if it happens, he usually shows up."

Junior Alvarado will have the riding assignment Saturday.

Entries: Muniz Memorial Classic S. (G2T)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, March 21, 2020, Race 10

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $300,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dot Matrix (NY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	8/1
2	2Aquaphobia (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Michael J. Maker	12/1
3	3Dontblamerocket (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Norm W. Casse	12/1
4	4Rockemperor (IRE)	Joel Rosario	118	Chad C. Brown	10/1
5	5Captivating Moon (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Chris M. Block	15/1
6	6Instilled Regard (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Chad C. Brown	5/1
7	7Henley's Joy (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
8	8Channel Maker (ON)	Junior Alvarado	118	William I. Mott	6/1
9	9Factor This (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	122	Brad H. Cox	10/1
10	10Secretary At War (KY)	Adam Beschizza	118	Norm W. Casse	20/1
11	11Marzo (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Michael J. Maker	15/1
12	12Synchrony (KY)	Joe Bravo	118	Michael Stidham	3/1
13	13Bundibunan (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Ignacio Correas, IV	20/1